Kallas: Giving up Ukrainian territory would be falling into Putin's trap
Photo: High Representative of the EU Kaja Kallas (Getty Images)
The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, warns, in an interview with the BBC, that the demand for concessions from Ukraine is a game according to the Kremlin’s scenario. She reminded that Russia has not retreated even one step.
The European Union warned that demanding that Ukraine give up part of its territories within the framework of a peace agreement is dangerous. According to Kallas, this will only fulfill the Kremlin’s plan, which dreams of consolidating control over the occupied regions.
Donbas, which Moscow has wanted to seize for more than ten years, forced 1.5 million Ukrainians to leave their homes. Kyiv has repeatedly emphasized that there will be no territorial concessions, despite US President Donald Trump's insistence on such a variant in his statements.
Security guarantees for Ukraine
Kallas stressed that the real guarantee for Ukraine is not paper agreements, but a strong army. She admitted that for now there are not many concrete steps for the formation of a real deterrence force.
According to her, it is precisely the states of the Coalition of the Willing that must decide what they are ready to provide; however, the format of this assistance has not yet been defined.
Concessions to the Kremlin
Last week, Trump received the Russian leader Putin in Alaska, after which leaders of Ukraine and key EU countries gathered in the White House. Kallas stated that Putin received "everything he wanted" – a warm welcome and the absence of new sanctions.
"Putin is just laughing, not stopping the killing, but increasing the killing. We are forgetting that Russia has not made one single concession," she emphasized.
Sanctions and the position of the West
The EU is already preparing the 19th package of sanctions against the Kremlin. At the same time, Trump declared that within two weeks, it will become clear whether progress in negotiations with Russia is possible. Zelenskyy, for his part, emphasized that Russia avoids even the very idea of a meeting so as not to end the war.
Doubts about Putin
President of France Emmanuel Macron stated that Putin behaves like a predator, "a cannibal at our doors," who must continue to feed for the sake of his own survival.
In turn, President of Finland Alexander Stubb noted that Putin "can rarely be trusted." Neither European leaders believe that the Kremlin is truly ready to conduct serious negotiations.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed readiness to meet with Putin in any format, but at the moment, there are no signs that Moscow really intends to discuss peace.
